Blank feeding apparatus



J. HALAHAN ET AL BLANK FEEDING APPARATUS Sept. 28, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed April 26, 1950 FIG. I.

E X l5 TING DRIVING MEANS AND CLUTC INVENTORS JOHN HALAHAN THtODORE EARONSON BY FLOYD A. LYON ATTORNEY J; HALAHAN El'AL BLANK FEEDINGAPPARATUS Sept. 28, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25, 1950 w mm I 4SM n d huHF hH w kw lta mil M mmmm ill ll l thi Z a m 0 w Q .mwmm Wm a uI mm... w. A 2&9. m l I .n 1. nunmwm J HMH R .I vw n a ww| E 9w WT I umm 8 QM. mm mm ww P 1954 J. HALAHAN E-f AL BLANK FEEDING APPARATUS 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 26, .1950' Patented Sept. 28, 1954 BLANKFEEDING APPARATUS John Halahan, Jackson Heights, Theodore F. Aronson,Valley Stream, and Floyd A. Lyon, Brookville, N. Y., assignors to Berlin& Jones (30., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New YorkApplication April 26, 1950, Serial No. 158,198

10 Claims.

This invention relates to feed mechanisms and more particularly tocontinuous automatic feed apparatus for feeding a stack of blanks. Whilethe invention is particularly useful in envelope making machines, it isapplicable at least in some of its aspects to other machines, e. g.,printing machines, in which blank feeding apparatus is utilized.

In non-gravity blank feeding apparatus it has been necessaryperiodically to stop the automatic L processing machinery to which theblanks were being fed in order to replenish the supply of blanks. Thisdiscontinuity in feeding of the blanks has resulted in a mis-match withthe rest Referring to Fig. 1, a stack of paper blanks of a type suitablefor manufacture into envelopes rest on a lower carriage l I comprising aplurality of spaced rails 12. Posts I3 upstanding from the rails serveto align stack ID on the carriage. Carriage ll is periodically driven bymotor [4 laterally in the direction of the arrow so that rails 12 meshwith rails l5 of an elevator It. A bell crank mechanism may convenientlybe associated with motor Hi to impart reciprocal motion to the carriage.Runways I? provided on either side of carriage l I serve to guide thecarriage into proper relation with alifting mechanism or elevator itwith which carriage l l is mounted in tandem.

of the machinery which could and should operate 5 As soon as stack I hasbeen carried by carcontinuously. riage ll into position on elevator itwhich is in It is the object of the present invention to overlowerposition the elevator is raised by means of come this mis-match byproviding an automatic rack and pinion 18, I9 and chains fastened blankfeed mechanism which permits the conto bars 23 on either side of theelevator. As shown tinuous operation of the processing machine. 20 insolid lines (Fig. 1), elevator I6 is in raised According to theinvention, an elevator mechaposition and is holding a diminished stackof nism moves a stack of blanks towards a removal blanks 2i in positionfor an oscillating sucker arm mechanism which removes a blank from themechanism, generally indicated at 22, to pick up stack. When the stackreaches a predetermined one end of the top blank and bring it intofricdiminished height a set of auxiliary supports 25 tional engagementwith rotating rubber faced operate to take over the support of thediminrollers 25. These rollers project the successive ished stack andthe elevator moves to another blanks in the direction of the arrowtowards the position where a carriage having a second stack envelopemaking machine (not shown), Where the of blanks deposits them on theelevator. The blank is formed into a completed envelope. The elevatorthereupon moves the second stack construction and operation of thesucker arm against what remains of the first and the auxiland rubberfaced rollers are well known. The iary supports are withdrawn. meanswhereby the sucker arm controls the oper- While the invention is notlimited to use on ation of rack and pinion l8, l9 and chain 29 to paperenvelope blanks, it has proven particularly raise the elevator are alsowell known and will efiicacious in solving feed problems in certain notbe described. types of envelope machines and will therefore Afterelevator It has been raised to a predeterbe described in greater detailas used in conjuncmined height, which means h t Stack 21 has tion with arotary envelope machine. It has been b diminished a Certain amount, a pty 0 found that the present invention increases by up tapered Supportfingers 25 mounted 011 an upper to 56% the production of such a machine.or finger carriage 24 are driven forward by chain The mechanism andoperation of the envelope 27 into meshing relation with rails 5 a dmachine per se is familiar to those skilled in the @ammed p to take overpp Of t e emainart and therefore only so much of the existing s blanksfrom BleVatOl" up 8- machine will be described as necessary toundervator l6 drops to the position shown in dotted stand the invention.lines (Fig. l) to receive a new or second stack In the drawings, ofenvelopes from carriage ll. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of themechanism; he mechanism controlling the Operation f Fig. 2 is a sideelevation on lines 2 -2 of Fig. 1; fin s 26 will b explained with r r ne to one Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the mechanism side of the fingermounting means. It is to be shown in Fig. 2; 5O understood that asimilar mechanism is provided Fig. 4 is a side elevation of themechanism of on the opposite side of the fingers. Fig. 2 in operatedcondition; and Referring to Fig. 2, a chain 21 driven by a 5 is aSchematic diagram of the electrical wheel 28 is fastened by a piece 30to the forward circuit controlling the operation of the mecha- I edge ofa slidable plate 29. Plate 29 is free to nism. move back and forth alonga slot 3! in a side 3 guideway plate 32. sides of the finger carriageare given rigidity by a bar 33 extending therebetween. Slide plates 29are held together by another bar 34 fastened to their rear ends. Therearward movement of plate 29 is checked by a stop 51 mounted on therear end of guideway 32.

Two rollers 35 projecting from slide plate 29 roll in slot 3| whilerollers 36 roll along the bottom edge of plate 32.

Fingers 26 are tapered at their front ends 31, while their rear ends arefastened to a bar 38 extending between plates 39 on either side of thefingers.

The front end of plate 39 is pivotally connected to parallel linkagemember 50 at 4|. Link 40 is pivotally connected at 42 to a plate 43. Theother end of plate 23 is pivotally connected at 34 to another parallellinkage member 45. Link 35 is pivotally connected to a mounting box 47on a rod E8. Mounting 41 and bar 38 are welded or otherwise rigidlyconnected. Link 45 is pivotally connected at 50 to slide plate 29 andlink 40 is pivotally connected at to the front end of this plate.

A lug 52 fastened to the lower left center of slide plate 29 is adaptedto engage bottom end of leg 53 of link 45.

A spring '54 is connected at one end 55 to slide plate 29 and at theother end to a stud 56 fastened to plate 43.

A cam follower 68 extends from plate 39 and is adapted to engage cam 6|mounted on a bracket 62 extending from guideway 32.

-Referring to Fig. 4, the camming up operation of support fingers 26, astheir carriage is moved forward to lift a diminished stack of. envelopes2 I, will be explained. A suitable motor 'II (Fig. 5) drives chain 27which by means of connection 30, pulls slide plate 29- forward. Thefingers move forward in a horizontal plane until follower 66 engages cam6|. The raising of follower 6i! raises plate 39 attached thereto. Plate39, pivots parallel link to, clockwise about 5| to move plate 23rearwardly. Plate 43 pivots link 45 at 5|] by exerting pressure againstleg 53. Link 45 is pivoted at 50, to move in a clockwise direction andlift bar 48, which in turn lifts bar 38 to raise fingers 2% fastenedthereto, into a plane parallel to that in which they are normallypositioned.

. The sucker arm mechanism continues removing blanks from stack 2| andwould normally by the existing elevator driving means and clutchgenerally indicated in housing 65 rotate pinion I9 to lift rack I8 whenthe sucker arm has to reach down below a certain distance for a blank.However, fingers 26 overlift stack 2| a sufiicient amount so that thesucker will not have to reach below said. certain distance until newstack I9 has been moved up under stack 2 I. The existing elevator drivemay therefore be de-clutched permitting the elevator to fall to itsloading position. After stack iii has been placed on the elevator it israised by an auxiliary motor II I, the operation of which will be laterdescribed, until stack I 3 is adjacent the bottom of stack 2|, whereuponthe auxiliary motor stops and the existing driving means under controlof the sucker takes over the lifting of the elevator.

Referring particularly to Fig. 5, the electrical circuit controlling theoperation of the device will be described. When elevator I6, carrying astack of gradually diminishing blanks 2| has been raised to apredetermined position, a switch is actuated and closes a circuitenergizing motor "H Guideways 32 on opposite a for driving the fingercarriage forward. This circuit is traced from a source of power I2,conductors I3, l4, 15, contact 10', conductor 76, contact H, conductors18, 19, motor H, conductors 89, 8| and back to the negative side of thesource of power.

As soon as the finger carriage moves forward, a switch [I3 is operatedto close contact H3 whereupon a release coil I26 of a lower latch relayis energized to release mechanical member I08 to close contactHit-positive side power source conductors 73, 14, 15, contact II3,conductors II S, H5 contact H8, conductor II'I, contact 83' conductorI27 release coil I26, conductor 8| to negative side of power source 12.

As the carriage continues its forward movement, switches Ti and 83 areactuated. The opening of contact TI stops motor II and the closing ofcontact TI" energizes a latch coil 84 connected by member 84' to thearmature of switch 85 of the upper latch relay. The closing of contact85 reverses the subsequent direction of motor II by changing thepolarity of the motor terminals. In addition, the closing of contact TI"completes another circuit to energize solenoid 82 which de-clutches theelevator drive permitting the elevator to fall by gravity.

The circuit for latch coil 84 may be traced as follows: Source of power"I2, conductors I3, "M, 15, contact I0, conductor 16 contact 11',conductors I26, I64 latch coil 84, conductors I05, BI and back to thenegative side of the source of power.

A circuit for solenoid 82 is also closed in parallel with the circuitforlatch coil 84 from conductor I24 over contact I03, conductor I 02,solenoid 82, conductor Illi, contact H39 (closed when carriage II is inthe out position), conductors IIii, 8| back to the negative side of thesource of power.

Although the closing of contact 83" of switch 83 completes the circuitfor the operation of an auxiliary elevator motor I I I, the motor doesnot drive the elevator since it has been de-clutched by the energizationof solenoid 82. As previously described release coil I26 is controlledover contacts of switch 83.

When elevator I6 reaches its lower position, a contact 96" of switch 96is closed to stop motor Ii i and energize motor I4 which moves carriageIi in with a new stack of paper I0; source of power "I2, conductors I3,I4, motor I4, conductor 98, contact 96", conductors 39, 8|, back tonegative side of source of power.

As carriage II star-ts in, Contact I28" of switch its is closed tomaintain a circuit for motor I4 over power supply I2, conductors 73,"Hi, motor H3, contact I", conductors IIil, 8| back to the negativesideof source of power.

During the inward movement of lower carriage I i, switch I8! is actuatedto complete a circuit which energizes the lower latch coil and opens thesolenoid circuit. De-energizing the solenoid permits en-clutching of theclutch mechanism which connects motor I I I for lifting the elevator.The circuit for the lower latch coil is as follows: power supply 7-2,conductor 73, latch coil Hi8 (which opens contact I 03-by moving memberI08 thereby opening the circuit of solenoid 82), conductor Hi3, contactI01, conductors 9'9,'-8I back to the negative side of the power supply.

When carriage II is in the in position so that its rails are meshingwith the elevator, the carriage actuates switch I22 to energizeauxiliary motor III; power supply 12, conductors 13, I4, I5 contact H3,conductors I I4, H5 contact IE6, conductor II E contact 83", conductorH8 motor III, conductor H9 contact I20, conductor I2! contact I22,conductors 99, 8| back to the negative side of source of power.

After elevator I6 rises a short distance sufficient to lift the newstack of blanks clear of carriage II, switch I20 is actuated to opencontact I29 and motor III stops. At the same time, lower carriage II,which is being reciprocally driven by motor I4, is moved back out of theway of the elevator bars 23. As the lower carriage clears bars 23,switch I20 is again aotuated to close contact I 20' and motor III whichdrives the elevator is energized.

When the top of the new stack of blanks contacts the bottom of fingers26, switch H6 is actuated to open the circuit of auxiliary motor Ill andclose over contact H6 the circuit to energize motor II to retract thefinger carriage: source of power 12, conductors I3, I4, I5, contact H3,conductors H4, H5 contact H6", conductor 19, motor H, conductors 80, BIback to the negative side of power.

The finger carriage upon reaching its back or out position actuatesswitch H3 to open the circuit of motor ll and energize release coil I23of the upper latch relay to reverse the subsequent direction in whichmotor H will drive the finger carriage; source of power I2, conductorsi3, I l, l5, contact H3", conductor I25, release coil H23, conductorsI05, I06, BI to the negative side of the source of power.

When lower carriage H returns to its out position in which a new stackof blanks may be placed thereon, switch I is actuated to open thecircuit of motor I4 by opening contact I".

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described therewill be suggested to those skilled in the art changes, modifications andother uses for the invention. For instance, instead of feeding theblanks from the bottom up, they could be fed from the top down orotherwise moved to accommodate some other type of machine. It istherefore intended to limit the invention only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A continuous feed apparatus for a machine of the type describedcomprising an elevator having upper and lower positions, a stack ofenvelope blanks on the elevator, first means for picking the top blankin the stack, driving means for raising the elevator to feed blanks tosaid first means, support means, a first electrical motor for movingsaid support means in and out with respect to the elevator, a firstcontact operated by the elevator after it has been raised to apredetermined position to close a circuit for said first motor to movesaid support means in to take over support of the stack of blanks fromthe elevator, a second contact means operated thereupon permitting theelevator to descend to its lower position, a lower carriage, a secondstack of envelope blanks on said carriage, a second electrical motor forreciprocally moving said lower carriage to in and out positions withrespect to said elevator when the latter is in its lower position, athird contact operated by said elevator when in lowered position toclose a circuit for said second motor to move the lower carriage in, afourth contact operated by said lower carriage as it moves to inposition closing the circuit of said elevator driving means whereby theelevator lifts the second stack of blanks from the lower carriage, and afifth contact operated after the second stack has been raised apredetermined amount to close the circuit for said first motor wherebythe support carriage is moved out to deposit the blanks remaining insaid first stack on said second stack.

2. A device for supporting and raising envelope blanks or the like fromone plane to another parallel plane and movable into a forward andrearward horizontal position insaid other plane comprising a pluralityof tapered fingers, a first bar laterally attached to one end of saidtapered fingers, a rod, rod housings connected to each end of said rodand connected to the extremities of said bar, first movable platespositioned one on each side of said tapered fingers, a cam followerconnected to each of said movable plates, a rigid connection betweensaid movable plates and said bar, a plurality of links, two legs mountedat an angle on each link, a pivotal connection between one leg of afirst link and a forward portion of the first plates, second movableplates positioned below each of said first plates, a pivotal connectionbetween the other leg of the first link and the forward portion of thesecond plate, a leg of a second link pivotally connected to the rearportion of said second plate, the other leg of the second link pivotallyconnected to the extremity of said rod, a slidable plate, a plurality ofrollers connected thereto, a guide plate against which said rollersoperate, a cam attached to said guide plate and adapted to cooperatewith said cam follower, a second bar connecting the ends of saidslidable plates, said first and second links pivotally connected to saidslidable plate, a stop on said slidable plate adapted to limit therotation of said second link, a spring connected between said slidableplate and said second plate, a stop on the end of said guide plate tolimit the rearward movement of said slidable plates and associatedparts, and means for moving the device to one of said positions wherebythe cam will operate on the cam follower to move said first plate, andsaid second plate being pivotally connected to the other leg of saidfirst link thereupon moves to operate said second link and raise thefingers into a plane parallel to their original plane.

3. A continuous feed apparatus for a machine of the type describedcomprising a ribbed platform supporting a supply stack of sheets andmovable vertically between a lowermost loading position and an elevatedsheet feeding position, means for removing a sheet from said stack,means for intermittently elevating said platform to maintain said stackin sheet transfer relation with said first named means, a guide framemounting a finger carriage for relative lateral movement into nestedrelation with said platform and for limited upward movement relativethereto whereby to take over support of said supply stack therefrom,means for conditioning said second named means to permit said platformto gravitate to said loading position, a ribbed carriage supporting areserve stack of sheets and movable into nested relation with saidplatform when in said loading position for transfer of said I reservestack thereto, means for elevating said gamete 7 i of the type describedcomprising" a ribbed platform supporting a supply stack of' sheets andmovable vertically between a lowermost loading position and an elevatedsheet feeding position, means for removing a sheet from said stack,means for intermittently elevating said platform to maintain said stackin sheet transfer relation with said first named means, a guide framemounting a finger carriage for relative lateral movement'into nestedrelation with said platform, said frame and finger carriage includingco-actable means for raising said carriage relative to said frame uponmovement thereof into nested relation with said platform whereby supportof said stack is taken over by said finger carriage, means forconditioning said second named means to permit said platform togravitate to said loading position, a ribbed carriage supporting areserve stack of sheets and movable into nested relation with saidplatform when in loading positionfor transfer of said reserve stackthereto, means for elevating said platform with said reserve stack intoabutting engagement with said finger carriage, and means for withdrawingsaid finger car-' riage and said ribbed carriage out of the path of saidplatform.

5. A continuous feed apparatus for a machine ofthe type describedcomprising a ribbed platform supporting a supply stack of sheets andmovable vertically between a lowermost loading position and an elevatedsheet feeding position, means for removing the top sheet from'saidstack, means for intermittently raising said platform to maintain saidstack in sheet transfer relation with said first named means, a guideframe mounting a finger carriage for relative lateral movement intonested relation with said platform and for limited upward movementrelative thereto whereby to take over support of said supply, stacktherefrom, means for deactivating said second named means to permit saidplatform to gravitate to said loading position; a ribbed car'- riagesupporting a reserve stack of sheets and movable into nested relationwith said platform when in said loading position for transfer of saidreserve stack thereto, means for initially elevating said platform totake over said reserve stack, means for withdrawing said ribbed carriageto normal position, means for elevating said platform to position saidreserve stack in abutting engagement with said finger carriage, meansfor Withdrawing said finger carriage to normal position, and means forrestoring intermittent control of said platform to said second namedmeans.

6. A continuous feed apparatus for a machine of the type describedcomprising a ribbed platform supporting a supply stack of sheets andmovable vertically between a lowermost loading position and an elevatedsheet feeding position, means for removing a sheet from said stack,releasable means for intermittently raising said platform to maintainsaid stack in sheet transfer relation with said first named means, afinger carriage including a guide frame therefor, pivoted linkagemechanism including roller means mounting said carriage on said framefor rela-- tive movement in a vertical and horizontal'plane,

said frame and carriage including co-actable means for raising saidcarriage relative to said frame upon movement thereof into nestedrelation with said platform whereby support of said stack is taken overby said finger carriage, means for releasing said second named means't'opermit said platform to descend to loading-position, a ribbedcarriagesupporting a reserve stack of sheets andmovableinto nestedrelation with said platform when in loading position for transfer ofsaid reserve'stack thereto-upon elevation of said platform, means forelevating said platform with said reservestack into abutting engagementwith said finger carriage, means for restoring intermittent control ofsaid-platform to said releasable means, and means for withdrawing saidribbed carriage and said finger carriage out of the patl'i'ofmovement ofsaid platform.

'7. A continuousfeed apparatus for a machine of the type describedcomprising a ribbed platformsupporting a supplystaok of sheets andmovable vertically between a lowermost loading position and an elevatedsheet feeding position, reciprocable means for removing the top sheetfrom said stack, means under control of said reciprocable means" forelevating said platform intermittently to" maintain said stack in sheettransfer relation with said reciprocable means, a guide frame mounting afinger carriage for transverse movement'into-nested' relation with saidplatform and" for limited upward movement relative to said frame,-saidframe and finger carriage includingcam and roller means for raisingsaidfinger carriage upon movement thereof into nested relation with saidplatform whereby support of said supply stack is taken over by saidfinger carriage, means for deactivating said second named means. topermit said platform to gravitate. to said loading position, a ribbedcarriage supporting a reserve stack of sheets and movable intoi nestedrelation with said platform when in loading position. for transfer or"said reserve stack thereto, means for elevating said platform with saidreserve stack into abutting engagement. withisaidfinger carriage, meansfor withdrawingsaid ribbed carriage and said finger carriage out of thepathof movement of said platform, and meansfor'restoring control of saidplatformr to said: second' namedmeans.

8. Aicontinuous feed apparatus for a machine of: thetype describedcomprising a ribbed platform supporting a supply stack of sheets andmovablevertically. between a lowermost loading position and an elevatedsheet feeding position, reciprocable means for removing the top sheetfrom said stack, means under control of said reciprocable means. forintermittently elevating said: platform to maintain said stack in sheettransfer relation with said reciprocable means, a guide framemountingv afinger carriage for lateral movement into nested relation with saidplatform upon' elevation ofsaid platform to a predetermined positionrelative to said reciprocable means; said frame and finger carriageincluding cam and roller means for raising said finger carriage uponmovement thereof into nestedrelation with said platform whereby supportof said stack is taken-over by said finger carriage, means under controlof said finger carriage upon movement to stack supporting position forinitiating release of said platform to said loading position,a'ribbedcarr-iage supoprting a reserve stack, means under control ofsaidplatform upon movement to: loading position for initiating movementof saidribbed carriage into stack transfer relation with saidplatform,means under control of said-ribbed carriage upon movement to stack.transfer position for initiating movement of: said" platform to raisesaid reserve stack into abutting; engagement with said finger carriage,and means -under'control of said platform and said'finger carriage: uponabutting engagement of said reserver-stack withi said finger carriagefor restoring control of said platform to said second named means andwithdrawal of said finger carriage to inactive position.

9. A continuous feed apparatus for envelope forming machines comprisinga ribbed platform supporting a supply stack of sheets and movablevertically between a lowermost loading position and an elevated sheetfeeding position, a driven shaft, reciprocable means operable by saidshaft for removing the top sheet from said stack, means under control ofsaid reciprocable means for intermittently raising said platform tomaintain said stack in sheet transfer relation with said reciprocablemeans, a guide frame mounting a finger carriage for relative movementinto nested relation with said platform and for limited upward movementrelative thereto whereby to take over support of said stack from saidplatform Without interrupting continuous sheet feeding operation, meansunder control of said finger carriage upon relative upward adjustment tostack supporting position for initiating movement of said platform tosaid loading position, a ribbed carriage supporting a reserve stack ofsheets movable in a path normal to and into nested relation with saidplatform when in said loading position, means under control of saidribbed carriage for initially elevating said platform relative to saidloading position to take over support of said reserve stack therefrom,means under control of said platform upon said initial movement thereoffor withdrawing said ribbed carriage to inactive position, means undercontrol of said ribbed carriage upon movement to inactive position forcontinuing elevation of said platform with said reserve stack intoabutting engagement with said finger carriage, and control meansoperable by said finger carriage upon relative upward movement thereofin response to said reserve stack for restoring intermittent control ofsaid platform to said second named means and for initiating movement ofsaid finger carriage to inactive position.

10. A continuous feed apparatus for a machine of the type describedcomprising a ribbed platform supporting a supply stack of sheets andmovable vertically between a lowermost loading position and an elevatedsheet feeding position, means for removing a sheet from said stack,means for intermittently elevating said platform to maintain said stackin sheet transfer relation with said first named means, a guide framemounting a finger carriage for relative lateral movement into nestedrelation with said platform and for limited upward movement relativethereto whereby to take over support of said supply stack therefrom,means for conditioning said second named means to permit said platformto gravitate to said loading position, a ribbed carriage supporting areserve stack of sheets and movable into nested relation with saidplatform when in said loading position for transfer of said reservestack thereto, means for elevating said platform with said reserve stackinto abutting engagement with said finger carriage, and means forwithdrawing said finger carriage and said ribbed carriage out of thepath of movement of said platform, said apparatus including a pluralityof electric motors and a solenoid connected in a relay controlledcircuit energizable in response to automatic control exercised on eachof a plurality of switch elements in sequence by said ribbed platform,finger carriage and ribbed carriage as they move into and out of activeposition in timed relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date *580,942 Heywood Apr. 20, 1897 845,907 Tyden Mar. 5, 19071,807,864 Novick June 21, 1931 2,185,947 Neer Jan. 2, 1940 2,205,767Lamb June 25, 1940 2,336,839 Blackstone Dec. 14, 1943 2,444,544 ThomasJuly 6, 1948

